Hat holder



Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES 4 Claims.

This invention appertains to a holder for mens hats and is an improvement over my prior invention illustrated in my pending application, Serial No. 702,935, filed October 12, 1946.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide bendable lips on the opposite sides of the hat supporting yoke, whereby diierent sizes of hat crowns can be eectively accommodated and efficiently held with a limited resilient grip.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide novel means struck out from the panel or face plate for detachably engaging the yoke to hold the same at the desired hat receiving angle relative to the panel, whereby the use of extraneous cords, and the like, for such purpose is eliminated.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a struck out bendable tongue on the lower part of a hat receiving yoke for engaging the panel, so that an additional bottom supporting bracket will be had for the yoke.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of my improved hat holder showing the same ycut from a single blank of sheet material.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the hat receiving yoke swung out to its operative position and receiving a hat, parts of the View being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical, sectional view through the hat holder, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, perspective view showing the use of cords for limiting the outward swinging movement of the hat receiving yoke.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter H generally indicates my improved hat holder.

The hat holder H is constructed along the same general line as the hat holder shown in my pending application, and hence, the same is cut from a single sheet of material. such as 2 cardboard. panel or face plate 6.

Struck out of the panel 6 is front supporting frame or yoke 'l for supporting a hat 8. The yoke is of a U-shape in front elevation and is cut from the panel 6 and is free from said panel at all points with the exception of the lower edge thereof so as to provide a hinge 9. If desired, the yoke l above the hinge 9 can be scored or otherwise weakened as at ID parallel with said hinge, so that an offset connecting portion II can be provided. This offset connection portion l! can have struck out therefrom a bendable tab i2, which is adapted to engage the front face of the panel 6 when the yoke is swung out, and this tab forms an additional supporting bracket for the yoke.

While the yoke i can be limited in its outward swinging movement by cords I3 as shown in Figure 5 and illustrated in my pending application, it is preferred to provide arms I 4 struck out from the panel for limiting the outward swinging movement of the yoke. The arms I4 have formed on their lower ends inwardly projecting ngers I5. Consequently, when the yoke "l is swung out from the panel 6, and the arms It are extended, the iingers I5 can engage the outer face of the yoke to limit the outward swinging movement of the yoke.

As in that form of my invention shown in the pending application, the hat 8 is adapted to be placed against the front panel 6 and slid down within the yoke l. The brim of the hat ts between the panel and the yoke, and the crown of the hat is received directly in the yoke.

It has been found advantageous to provide means for accommodating different sizes of hat crowns and to slightly, resiliently engage the crown so as to prevent accidental displacement of the hat from the holder. Consequently, in accordance with my present invention, I provide substantially vertical scored lines I6 on the upright portions of the yoke 1 so as to provide inwardly bendable hat crown engaging lips I'I. In order to further form the lips and to permit this inward bending, the yoke 1 can be cut inwardly and arcuately as at I8 to meet the scored lines It on opposite sides of the yoke.

With the bending back of the lips I8, a somewhat resilient connection is had, and hence, when the hat is inserted in the yoke, these lips will give according to the size of the crown of the hat. Thus, various sizes of crowns can be effectively received with a yielding pressure.

As is clearly shown in Figure 4, thumb tacks,

The hat holder includes a front or the like, i9 can be pushed through the panel 6, so that the hat holder can be secured to a wall, the inside face of a closet door, or the like.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A hat holder comprising a front supporting panel, a substantially U-shaped yoke hingedly connected at its lower edge to the panel, means for limiting the outward swinging'movement' of' the yoke and yielding lips carried by the inner side edges of the yoke for engaging a hat crown.`

2. A hat holder comprising a front supporting panel, a U-shaped yoke hingedly connected'atl its lower end to the panel and movable to. an operative position at an angle to said-panel, means for limiting the outwardiswinging@moveer ment oi the yoke on the panel and bentback lips on the inner edges of the upright portions of the yoke for resilientlyengaging a hat crown when the same is placed inthe yoke.V`

3. A hat holder comprising a.frontvfsupporting paneL. a Ueshaped yoke hingedly` connectedat its' lower end to. the panel and movable to acollapsed'position within the planeof said panel' and to an operative position at an angleto'said panel, and arms hingedly connected to the panel having inwardly directed fingers engaging the outer face of the yoke to limit the outward swinging movement of said yoke.

4. A portable hat holder or shelf comprising a front panel, a substantially U-shaped yoke hingedly connected at its lower edge to the panel and adapted to swing toward and away from the panel,l means for limitingthe. outward. swinging movement ofthe yoke at thefupper endl thereof, the yoke at its hinge connection with the front panel being provided with a connecting portion projecting outwardly from the plane of the panel, andra-.bent down tab carried by said connecting portion engaging the outer face of said panel.

ERNEST W. PFEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1f Number Name` Datei Re. 20,448' Vanik'en` Jly'ZO'; 1937 Y 2,005,372' Johns June'lj 1935 2,3'8flf80 Huye Sept. 11j 1945- 

